Herbal Anti-Inflammatory for Asthma
Modern medicine or herbal remedies? When both work together it may be the solution to certain diseases, such as asthma. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, over 22 million Americans were diagnosed with asthma in 2007. Some asthmatics are finding relief with herbal remedies.
Asthma
Close your eyes, take a slow deep breath, feel your lungs expand with crisp air. Repeat this step, but now imagine an elephant sitting on your chest. No air able to pass through--just desperation and hope of your next breath. You have just experienced an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic lung disease and once triggered, the muscle around your airways constricts and inhibits airflow to the lungs. Cells in the airways produce mucus making it even more difficult to breathe. The inflammation of asthma can be caused by a number of triggers. A few examples are allergens-animal dander, dust, and mold, food containing dairy products, irritants like smoke, perfume, chemical fumes, and climate
TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine was able to examine the effects of TCM with the support of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Studies showed asthmatics had "significant improvement" with the combination of anti-asthma herbal medicine Intervention combined with prednisone. TCM is also in a form of herb called Chinese skullcap. It has an antihistamine effect soothing the airway to the lung.
Herbs
Like TCM, herbal remedies have been around for thousands of years. There are numerous herbal remedies to assist in treating asthma. These remedies help by reducing inflammation and inhibiting future attacks. Examples of herbs you can use to prevent asthma symptoms are ginkgo biloba (reduces hypersensitivity by acting as an anti-PAF, platelet activating factor), tumeric (contains curcumin, which is a potent anti-inflammatory in chronic and acute conditions), licorice root (used to assist in calming breathing passageways), coltsfoot (acts as a cough suppressant), and ma huang/ephedra (practiced through TCM as a stimulant and thermogenic assisting in dilating airways).
Prevention
Prevention is the key. Asthma is a killer. Over 4,000 deaths a year are directly due to asthma; over 7,000 other deaths indicated asthma as a "contributing factor," according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Many deaths could be avoided with proper treatment and care. Prevent your asthma by taking action now. Start an Asthma Action Plan with the guidance of your physician. Get started with Herbal Remedies as a preventive.
Warning
Consult with your doctor before beginning any type of alternative treatment. Although herbs are natural they can interfere with prescription medicines and cause complications. Herbs such as ephedra need to be regulated due to their ability to increase blood pressure and heart rate. Do not let this deter you from the assistance of herbal remedies, but take caution as you should with any type of treatment.
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